Potato-harvester



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. T. DOWDEN.

POTATO HARVBSTER.

No. 434,980. Patented Aug. 26, 1890.

D W $56151 Mam/t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASHFORD T. DOWDEN, OF PRAIRIE CITY, IOWA.

POTATO-HARVESTER.

SFECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,980, dated August26, 1890.

Application filed May 18, 1889. Serial No. 311,345. (No model.)

To whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASI-IFORD T. DOWDEN, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and aresident of Prairie City, in the county of J as per andState of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements inPotato-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to the machine for which United States LettersPatent No.

316,015, dated April 21,1885, and No. 357,119, dated February 1, 1887,were issued to me; and my invention consists in the construction andcombination of frames adapted to carry a plow and idlers or rotaryfenders at the sides of the plow, as hereinafter set forth, tofacilitate change in the direction of advance, the regulation of thedepth of the plow, and to improve the strength, convenience, andefficiency of the complete machine.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a top View of the flexiblecarriage adapted to carry and direct the plow. Fig. 2 is alongitudinalside elevation, partly in section, showing the mechanism for raising andlowering the plow. Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing two side framesand a scoop-shaped plow and two idlers combined. Fig. A is a side viewof the rear portion of the machine, partly in section; and Fig. 5, aplan or top view showing the reel and vine-carrier and the two series oftimes connected with the rear end of the endless carrier.

A is an axle-tree, and A a pole pivoted to its center. 7

A are elbow shaped axles pivoted to the ends of the axle A.

A are traction-wheels on the axles, and A are arms rigidly fixed to thetop ends of vertical portions of the axles.

A is an equalizing-bar pivoted to the pole at its center and to the endsof the arms A in such a mannerthat when the pole is turned to one sideby the horses the axles will vibrate and change the inclination of thewheels, so that the direction of advance can be instantly changed asrequired to facilitate turning about the machine at the end'of a row ofpotatoes.

B are mating curved metal side bars of the plow-carrying frame pivotedto the axle-tree, and B the metal side bars of the carrier-frame thatextends from the plow B to the axle of the rear carriage that issupported upon wheels B B is a rock-shaft in bearings formed in or fixedto the bars B. This shaft is connected with the bars B ofthecarrier-frame by means of cranks B and arms 13', attached to thecarrier-frame in such a manner that when the rock-shaft is actuated bymeans of a lever B, fixed thereto, the plow and front portion of thecarrier and its frame can be raised and lowered.

B is a rack fixed to one end of the bars B in such a manner that it willbe engaged by a latch or bolt carried by the lever B to lock therock-shaft in a fixed position as required to retain the plow elevatedand inoperative or at any point of elevation desired while in operation.

O is an elbow-shaped frame cast complete in one piece. It has a curvedextension C at its front end, adapted to receive and support the convexunder side of the scoop-shaped plow B C is a rear extension in the formof a olevis, that is adapted to be adjustably connected with the frontends of the side bars F of the carrier-frame as required to change theinclination of the plow and to govern its depth in the ground. At thetop of the Vertical part of the frame is a lateral extension 0', formedon or fixed thereto, that serves as a bearing for an idler D, that has acoinciding bearing in the horizontal portion of the frame. One of thoseframes and idlers is secured to each side of the plow B and theplow-carrier frame by means of bolts in such a manner thatthe plow andidlers and frame will be raised and lowered jointly.

F is a rotating axle in bearings formed in the frame 0. It is providedwith pulleys, over which the endless carrier G is placed and operated.

II is a reel in bearings fixed to the rear portion of the side bars B ofthe carrier-fraine.

H is an auxiliary frame attached to the rear end of the carrier frame,preferably in such a manner that its free end can be raised J is therotating" shaft of the carrier G, connected with the driving-wheel bymeans of gearing.

K is a belt connected with the shafts J 2 and J 4 and the shaft of thereel H in such a manner that motion will be transmitted to the reel andthe vine-carrier as required to pass vines over the reel rearward, andfrom thence under the vine-carrier and over a series of tines 1 2 3 4,that are fixed to the auxiliary frame as required to direct the vines toone side and to drop them in a row that will extend parallel with theline of advance of the machine.

5 6 7 8 represent a series of curved tines fixed to the auxiliary framein such a manner that the potatoes carried up from the plow will dropupon them, to be thereby directed rearward and deposited in a row on topof the ground and at the side of the row of vines and weeds.

D is an idler adj ustably connected with the sides B of the carrierframeto support the endless carrier G.

I claim as my invention 1. The frame B supported at its rear end upontraction-wheels, the frame composed of the curved bars B, the sideframes 0, the fixed plow 13 an endless carrier, and the carriagecomposed of the axle A, pole A elbow-shaped axles A wheels A arms A andan evener A, arranged and combined in a potato-har- \-*ester,substantially as shown and described, for the purposes stated.

2. The plow-carrying frame composed of the curved bars B, the framecomposed of the side bars B and the rock-shaft B having cranks on itsends, and the arms B fixed to the bars B and the frame 0, havingextensions C and 0 arranged and combined substantially as shown anddescribed, for the purposes stated.

3. The frames 0, having curved extensions 0 at their front andextensions 0 at the rear ends of their horizontal portions and lateral.

extensions and bearings for an idler at their tops, idlers D, a plow, anarched frame hinged to the front axle, and the side bars of a frameconnected with the rear axle, arranged and combined substantially asshown and described, for the purposes stated.

ASI-IFORD T. DOWDEN. Witnesses:

J. R. GILL, Gno. A. GILL.

